Chinese Football Association Weighs Future of Coach Djurdjevic: A Decision with Far-reaching Implications
According to relevant reports by domestic football journalist Ma Dexing and information from multiple sources, the Chinese Football Association is still evaluating the retention of Serbian coach Dejan Djurjevic. This decision not only concerns the coach's personal coaching prospects, but also reflects the deep considerations of Chinese football in the youth training system, national team construction and foreign coach appointment strategy. The following analyzes this issue from multiple angles:
**Djurjevic's coaching performance and controversy**
Since taking over the Chinese Asian Games team in 2023, Djurjevic has led the team to a 5-1 victory over India and a 4-0 victory over Myanmar in the group stage of the Hangzhou Asian Games, and broke the "curse" of being eliminated in the first round of the knockout stage of the five Asian Games and advanced to the quarterfinals, although he eventually lost 0-2 to the South Korean team. After serving as the head coach of the U19 national team in 2024, he led the team to defeat South Korea in the "Silk Road Huashan Cup" and won the championship, and led the U20 national football team to qualify for the 2025 U20 Asian Cup group stage, demonstrating tactical flexibility and the ability to train young players.
Despite his remarkable achievements, his on-the-spot command ability is still criticized. For example, in the quarter-finals of the U20 Asian Cup, the team lost due to uneven distribution of physical energy and slow substitutions, exposing the lack of adaptability to high-intensity events. In addition, during his time in the Asian Games team, he played more of an "executive coach" role and was accused of lacking independent tactical innovation and over-reliance on Jankovic's strategy.
**The complex background of the Football Association's evaluation**
The current U20 national football team has emerged with potential new stars such as Wang Yudong and Mao Weijie, and some players have already established themselves in the Chinese Super League. The Football Association needs to weigh whether to retain the entire team structure to continue the tactical system, and Djurjevic's familiarity with this group of players has become an important consideration for staying in office.
In recent years, the Chinese Football Association tends to choose "cost-effective" foreign coaches. Djurjevic's annual salary requirement is relatively low, and he has two years of coaching experience in China and is adapted to the Chinese football environment. In contrast, the former national team coach Ivankovic caused controversy due to poor performance and high termination fees, further highlighting Djurjevic's potential advantages.
According to Ma Dexing's report, the Football Association needs to go through a strict professional review and collective decision-making process, combining multiple factors such as the team's long-term planning, foreign coach adaptability and budget constraints for comprehensive evaluation. This process may involve complex issues such as synergy with Jankovic's team (such as historical cooperation basis), and the connection between youth training and adult teams.
**Possibility and potential direction of staying**
If the U20 national football team retains its system, Djurjevic may remain as the team's head coach and focus on preparing for the next cycle of events. His experience will help young players continue to grow while avoiding the high-pressure environment of the adult team.
With Ivankovic's position as coach unstable, Djurjevic was listed as one of the potential successors. His successful cases in the youth team and his familiarity with the national team system may make him the choice of the Football Association during the "transition period".
In recent years, the Football Association has emphasized "professional reform". Djurjevic may participate in the design of the youth training system, the cooperation of foreign coach teams and other behind-the-scenes work, and give full play to his advantages in European youth training experience.
**Challenges and risks**
Chinese football has long been in the spotlight. If Djurjevic takes over the adult team, he will have to face tough battles such as the World Cup qualifiers, and his shortcomings in on-the-spot command may be magnified.
The new leadership of the Football Association emphasizes "strengthening supervision" and "returning to government leadership". Djurjevic needs to adapt to the administrative management model with Chinese characteristics to avoid repeating the mistakes of the "golden dollar football" period when foreign coaches were out of touch with the system.
**Conclusion**
Djurjevic's retention evaluation is essentially a microcosm of the Football Association's pursuit of a balance between the deep cultivation of youth training and short-term results, and the ability of foreign coaches and localization needs. Regardless of the final result, this decision will profoundly affect the development trajectory of Chinese football in the next few years. As Ma Dexing said, the revival of Chinese football requires "rebuilding credit" as a prerequisite, and the stability and professionalism of the coaching team are the key links in this process.
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